Ingredients

How to make it

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Lightly oil and flour 3 (9 by 1 1/2-inch round) cake pans.
  • In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
  • In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
  • Using a standing mixer or hand Mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.
  • Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans.
  • Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart.
  • Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
  • Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans.
  • One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.
  • Frost the cake. Place 1 layer, rounded-side down, in the middle of a rotating cake stand.
  • Using a palette knife or offset spatula spread some of the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake. (Spread enough frosting to make a 1/4 to 1/2-inch layer.)
  • Carefully set another layer on top, rounded-side down, and repeat. Top with the remaining layer and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
  • Sprinkle the top with the pecans.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1 pound cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup), softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and butter on low speed until incorporated.
  • Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
  • Reduce the speed of the mixer to low.
  • Add the vanilla, raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally).
  • Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using.
  • May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Reviews & Comments 14

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  • KeishaG 13 years ago
    The Cakeman Raven...this is an awesome red velvet cake recipe. I've seen the cakeman make this cake on The Food Network several times, probably one of the best red velvet cakes yet.
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  • tcrumb 15 years ago
    I made this cake for Christmas and my husband and I are sooooo pleased. This is my third attempt to make a red velvet cake and this recipe is the BEST. It's so moist and rich and I can't wait to make another one. Thank you for sharing this recipe and I've added it to my collection. Thanks!!!!!
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    " It was excellent "
    dutchie326 ate it and said...
    this is a fiver, that is for sure. I made this for my daughter when she was home and she loved it.
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  • akarlin 15 years ago
    This is very similar to a recipe I got from Cake Man Raven's website. It's delicious!!!!!!!!
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    " It was excellent "
    henrie ate it and said...
    I made this cake for my son's birthday and it was a huge hit. I even sent some of it to my neighbor and she told me it was the best Red Velvet Cake she ever had. She ask me to make her one for Christmas, and said I should actually be making them to sell. Wish I could give you 100 for it, but you do have my 5 forks. Thanks so much for sharing this recipes here.
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  • yumyumm 15 years ago
    This cake was one of my first I ever made. It has always been one of my favorites. It was my grandmother's recipe, but her frosting was made with flour! (And it is yummy.) She would always sprinkle coconut on top of her red velvet cake/frosting.
    I will be adding my (her) recipe soon.
    Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
    " It was excellent "
    momo_55grandma ate it and said...
    so love red velvet cake gonna try this one grandkids will be happy ha.
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  • rasputendebarry 16 years ago
    Sounds like a really good recipe. Maybe I'll give it a shot one of these days. YOu folks are sure giving me some new recipes to try that are all good ones. I'm grateful and so are my friends. LOL Thanks
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    " It was excellent "
    annieamie ate it and said...
    I can't wait to try your recipe! I love red velvet cakes and always wanted to try making one but never had a decent recipe until now! Thanks so much for posting this recipe.
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  • kjroxx 16 years ago
    I made this yesterday - I had never even heard of it before - and it was beautiful! It was also such a visually impressive cake that someone asked me where I bought it...
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  • bondc 16 years ago
    Oh yes.
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    " It was excellent "
    sunny ate it and said...
    WOW - this is decadent!
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    " It was excellent "
    evsma ate it and said...
    YUM! I was making this cake for a friend to take with her on a weekend getaway, and I sampled a bit of the batter, just to make sure it was okay... I could have sucked it up with a straw!! Delicious! And, the icing... I am an icing recipe doubler, and I didn't this time, and I still had leftover. A perfect cake recipe! Loved this. (I did skip the nuts.)
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    " It was excellent "
    dariana ate it and said...
    This was delicious! Thanks for sharing.
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